2  j 


COPYRIGHTED 
BY   JOHN   E.   ATWOOD, 

1897. 


947S67 


INTRODUCTORY. 

Believing  that  this  little  book  contains 
some  original,  interesting  and  important 
truths,  and  that  several  great  accepted  and 
leading  errors  are  herein  successfully  con- 
troverted and  exposed;  all  of  which  is  in 
line  with  real  science  and  the  best  interests 
of  mankind,  the  author  has  seen  fit  to  place 
it  before  the  public. 


The  Constituents  of  the 
Universe. 

I.  SPACE — extent    or    room — and    TIME — 
continuation  or  duration — in  conjunction  with 
MOTION,  are    the    three  great  essentials  that 
comprise  or  constitute  the  universe. 

II.  There  is  no  room  whatever  for  a  rea- 
sonable doubt  as  to   these   truths,  each  and 
all  of  them;  and  nothing  can  occur  or  trans- 
pire that  does  not    involve    the  conjunction 
and  actual  combination  of  all  three  of  them. 

III.  From   the   least    possible   movement, 
to  one  of  the  greatest  magnitude,  there  is  no 
exception  to  this  inflexible  condition  or  mode 
of  operation. 

IV.  Or,  in  other  words,  MOTION,  without 
both  TIME  and  SPACE,  is  an  absolute  impos- 
sibility. 

V.  This  being  the  case,  it  follows  that  all 
phenomena   must    necessarily  be  referred  to 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


these  three  sources,  for  the  reason  that  there 
are  no  others;  and  for  the  additional  reason 
that  there  is  no  rest  or  stand-still. 

VI.  The  consideration  of  a  few  simple  facts 
will  assist  in  arriving  at  a  better  appreciation 
of  these  propositions. 

VII.  Motion,    then,    is    either    curved  or 
radial. 

VIII.  Curved  motion  is  also  spiral. 

IX.  Motion  exhibits   changes    or    modifi- 
cations. 

X.  Changes,   or   modifications   of    motion 
follow,  or   occur  only   through  contact,  bom- 
bardment, or  collision  of  two  or  more   move- 
ments. 

XI.  A  single,  or  simple  motion  alone  will 
not  change  its   mode  radically,  if  at   all;  but 
only  a  change  of  location  in  space  results. 

XII.  Motion  cannot  be  eliminated  or  de- 
stroyed, but  may  be  modified  or  changed;  and 
that  is   all  there  is  to  the  so-called  conserva- 
tion of  energy. 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


XIII.  The  great  motions  of  the   universe 
are   simply   self-motions,  and   have  no   other 
cause  for  their  presence. 

XIV.  Motion  has  quantity  or  volume,  and 
that  quantity,  whether  great  or  small,  is  not 
an  indefinite  amount;  but  on  the   contrary   it 
is  specific  and  definite,  and  that  fact  is   one  of 
the  conditions  that  have  led  to  the  accepted 
but  incorrect  theories  concerning  what  is  usu- 
ally supposed  to  be  matter. 

XV.  Motion  cannot  increase  or  decrease  its 
amount  or  quantity. 

XVI.  The   radial   motion   from    the    sun, 
through   its  collision  with  the  surface  of  the 
earth,  is  the  source  of  the  complex  movements 
on  this   planet;  manifested  in  vegetable   and 
animal  life  and  other  phenomena. 

XVII.  Heat  and  light  are  radial   motions. 

XVIII.  Motion  offers  a  resistance  to  other 
motions. 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


ERRORS. 

I.  There  is  no  force  aside  from  motion,  and 
motion  is  not  due  to  force. 

II.  There  is  no  energy  aside  from   motion. 

III.  There  is  no  attraction  of  any  kind. 

IV.  There  is  no  inertia,  rest,  or  stand-still. 

V.  There  is  no  design. 

VI.  There  are  no  laws  of  nature;  but  only 
certain  simple  truths. 

VII.  There  is  no  weight;  as  that  is  simply 
the  mode  of  motion  from  which  the  globular 
form  results  . 

VIII.  There  is  no  chemical  affinity;  and 
chemical  changes  take  place  through  the  har- 
monious  co-operation  of  two  or   more  move- 
ments that  are  adapted  to  permit  the  changes 
that  follow,  through  mingling  and  blending  in 
another  and  different  manner. 

IX.  There  is  no  cohesion,  and  solidity   is 
simply   a  real   and  preceptible  resistance  to 
other  motions. 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


X.  There  is   no   ether,  and  heat  and  light 
are  not  transmitted  by  any  such  means. 

XI.  There  is  no  first  cause,  if  indeed  there 
is  any  cause  whatever. 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


The  Ether  Theory. 

fHIS   remarkable   list  o'f  errors,   or   false 
assumptions,  any  one  of  which  would 
prove  a  formidable  obstacle  in  the  path 
of  real  discovery,  and  a  bar  to  correct  conclu- 
sions  has  been  quite  generally  accepted;  and 
for  that  reason  it  seems  to  call  for  some  con- 
sideration in  connection   with  the  affirmative 
or  main  propositions. 

Commencing  then  with  the  Ether  theory 
of  the  transmission  of  light,  a  single  com- 
parison will  suffice  to  show  its  absurdity.  If 
we  take  that  portion  of  space  that  properly 
pertains  to  our  own  solar  system,  and  com- 
pare it  with  the  magnitude  of  that  system, 
we  shall  find  that  if  a  single  mustard  seed 
was  to  represent  the  sun  and  all  of  the  dif- 
ferent orbs  and  parts  that  belong  to  it;  about 
a  cubic  mile  would  represent  the  field  of 
ether  involved  in  the  problem.  A  cubic  mile 
ot  ether  with  only  about  one  millionth  of 
a  cubic  inch  of  material  in  it,  to  make  it 
vibrate?  It  is  even  absurd  to  assume  that 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


only  one  part  in  a  million  of  parts  ot  the 
same  size,  could  accomplish  much  in  vibrat- 
ing the  other  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine 
thousand,  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nint  parts 
qf  a  cubic  inch.  What  then  are  we  to  think 
of  this  assumption,  when  a  cubic  mile  or  more 
than  twenty-one  trillion  of  cubic  inches  are  to 
be  vibrated  by  such  insignificant  means?  But 
there  is  no  vibration  about  it,  and  light  is  not 
transmitted  in  that  manner.  The  supposed 
Ether  would  be  an  obstacle  instead  of  an  agent 
or  assistant  for  such  a  purpose.  Light  is  a 
radial  motion,  and  not  a  mere  vibration  nor 
the  result  of  a  vibration.  In  short  a  vibration 
ig  nothing  more  than  a  mere  local  or  second- 
ary movement,  if  indeed  it  is  even  that;  and 
the  same  may  be  said  of  the  so-called  Wave 
Motion.  Neither  of  them  are  primary  move- 
ments like  the  movements  of  heat  and  light. 
Both  heat  and  light  are  radial,  or  the  motion 
that  they  follow  or  from  which  they  result  is 
radial.  The  only  other  motion  is  the  curved 
one,  and  it  will  be  seen  at  a  glance  that  this 
motion  is  not  at  all  appropriate  for  such  pur- 
pose. The  movements  of  heat  and  light  re- 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


quire  no  agent  for  their  transmission,  aB  space 
is  the  ample  and  appropriate  field  in  which 
they  move  in  straight  lines  until  intercepted. 
Nothing  whatever  is  known  of  the  imaginery 
Ether,  which  would  have  to  occupy  nearly  all 
space  to  be  of  any  use,  and  for  no  other  purpose 
than  to  transmit  light,  as  it  were.  Is  the 
universe  as  lop-sided  as  that  theory  would 
imply?  So  much  of  one  thing  to  so  little  of 
all  things?  In  short,  this  theory  does  not 
come  within  the  range  of  plausibilities;  for 
how  indeed  could  the  light  of  the  sun  vibrate 
the  Ether  at  all  —  which  is  perfectly  transpar- 
ent if  there  is  any  —  through  which  the  light 
passes,  evidently  unobstructed.  If  it  takes  a 
thousand  years  for  the  light  from  a  remote 
star  or  sun  to  reach  our  solar  system,  when 
moving  at  the  rate  of  nearly  two  hundred 
thousand  miles  in  a  second  of  time,  is  there 
any  possible  explanation  of  that  movement 
but  the  straight  line  and  an  unobstructed 
path? 

NO   REST   OR    STANDSTILL. 

The  theory  of  inertia,  or  matter  at  rest,  has 
no    support    whatever.       It    was    originated 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


simply  from  the  circumstance  that  different 
parts  of  a  whole  sustain  the  same  relative 
position  and  relation  to  each  other  unless  dis- 
turbed by  some  preceding  movement.  But 
that  is  not  proof  of  inertia  for  the  conclusive 
reason  that  the  entire  earth,  with  all  things  or 
parts  included,  are  in  rapid  and  ceaseless 
motion.  It  was  also  assumed  in  this  connec- 
tion that  matter  never  moves  unless  impelled 
by  force,  and  this  like  inertia  is  another  error. 

This  false  assumption  about  the  operation 
of  force  occurred  from  the  fact  that,  when  the 
position  of  an  object  is  changed  with  relation 
to  other  objects,  a  motion  aside  from  the  ob- 
ject thus  moved  precedes  the  movement  of 
that  object,  as  for  example,  a  horse  that  moves 
a  carriage.  When  a  movement  of  that  de- 
scription ceases,  that  object  is  again  considered 
to  be  at  rest,  or  inert.  These  false  views  con- 
cerning inertia  and  force  were  entertained  for 
the  reason  that  a  special  and  secondary  move- 
ment only,  was  in  that  case  recognized; 
while  the  vastly  more  important,  endless 
movement  of  the  entire  earth,  with  every  ob- 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


ject  included,  was  completely  overlooked  and 
ignored.  For  instance,  if  a  person  at  the 
equator  were  trundling  a  wheel-barrow  two 
miles  in  one  hour,  it  would  fitly  illustrate  the 
absurd  conclusion  about  force  and  matter. 
For  while  this  comparatively  insignificant  and 
temporary  movement  is  taking  place,  another 
movement,  of  both  man  and  wheel-barrow  also 
occurs,  of  over  one  thousand  miles  an  hour, 
due  to  the  diurnal  motion  of  the  earth.  Then 
there  is  the  additional  movement  of  the  earth 
around  the  sun  of  over  sixty  thousand  miles 
an  hour,  to  which  may  be  added  the  motion  of 
the  whole  solar  system,  making  the  entire 
motion  of  the  earth  about  a  hundred  thousand 
miles  an  hour. 

Regarding  the  earth  as  a  unit  or  whole  then, 
which  is  strictly  proper  in  this  case  at  least, 
for  what  is  true  of  the  whole  is  true  of  all  the 
parts,  we  clearly  perceive  that  there  is  abso- 
lutely nothing  at  rest  or  inert. 

The  motion  of  the  earth  through  space  is 
simply  SELF-MOTION,  while  there  is  no  such 
thing  as  force  involved  outside  of  and  inde- 


10 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


pendent   of  that   motion.     That   fact  is  very 
evident  for  other  reasons. 

The  motion  of  a  projectile  is  considered 
swift  when  moving  two  thousand  feet  in  a 
second  of  time  and  which  soon  ceases  at  that; 
while  the  gun  from  which  it  was  fired,  and 
which  is  commonly  believed  to  be  at  rest,  has 
a  ceaseless  movement  of  nearly  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  feet  in  the  same  time;  in 
common  with  the  whole  earth.  To  say  then 
that  all  matter  is  inert  and  requires  force  to 
produce  motion,  because  a  bullet  is  supposed 
to  be  at  rest  until  it  is  given  another  mere 
secondary  motion  of  two  thousand  feet  a 
second,  and  a  very  brief  one  at  that,  while  it 
constantly  has  another  motion  seventy-five 
times  greater,  with  no  symptoms  of  any  force 
being  applied;  is  convincing  evidence  of  a 
serious  mistake  about  both  force  and  inertia. 

The  assumption  that  force  is  the  cause  of  all 
motion,  merely  because  a  part  or  parts  of  a 
whole  like  the  earth  require  another  motion  to 
precede  any  additional  movement  of  such  part 
or  parts  to  change  their  position  or  relation  to 


11 


CONSTITUENTS  OP  THE  UNIVERSE 


each  other,  is  entirely  unwarranted  by  the  real 
facts;  and  yet  that  is  all  there  is  to  this  false 
theory  of  force.  If  we  stop  to  study  this  so- 
called  force  or  energy,  we  shall  readily  dis- 
cover that  it  has  no  application  to  anything 
but  these  mere  secondary  movements,  and  is 
not  true  even  in  the  very  cases  that  have  led 
to  its  acceptance. 

Aside  from  what  is  called  attraction,  which 
is  still  another  blunder;  for  there  is  no  attrac- 
tion of  any  kind  as  will  be  shown,  we  shall 
find  that  in  all  cases  of  so-called  force  that 
the  secondary  movement  of  parts  or  objects  is 
always  by  means  of  or  through  contact  or  its 
equivalent,  and  practically  in  a  direction  FROM 
the  alleged  force. 

We  shall  find  too,  that  the  movement  called 
force  is  never  less  than  that  of  the  object 
moved. 

We  shall  further  find  that  the  thing  moved 
will  not  move  continuously  unless  the  force  is 
continuous. 

We  shall  also  learn  that  there  are  no  second- 


12 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


ary  motions  that  approach  in  point  of  speed 
the  primary  motions  of  the  earth. 

We  shall  discover  that  the  objects  moved 
can  move  in  only  one  direction  from  the  oper- 
ation of  a  single  force. 

Also  that  such  examples  of  this  movement 
must  have  a  base  of  operations,  or  foot-hold, 
as  it  were. 

Let  us  now  see  how  these  requirements  and 
conditions  meet  the  case  of 

THE    MOVEMENTS   OF  THE  MOON. 

That   motion  is  nearly  one  hundred 

times  swifter  than  the  movement  of  a 
rifle  ball,  and  is  unceasing  and  regular;  while 
the  other  movement  is  brief  and  irregular.  It 
requires  the  equivalent  of  two  of  these  forces 
in  the  case  of  the  rifle  ball,  to  produce  its 
simple  movement.  How  would  it  be  then  with 
the  moon's  peculiar  motion,  and  what  possible 
forces  could  be  applied  to  such  a  movement? 
In  the  first  place  the  moon  has  a  motion  in 
common  with  the  sun's  path,  which  is  prob- 


13 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


ably  a  curved  one,  that  no  single  force  will 
produce.  Next  it  has  a  motion  with  the  earth 
around  the  sun,  which  is  a  spiral  that  would 
require  at  least  three  different  forces  to 
accomplish;  and  finally  another  spiral  move- 
ment around  the  spiral  path  of  the  earth. 

Remember  that  all  of  these  complex  move- 
ments of  the  moon  are  specific  and  continuous, 
and  would  require  a  great  number  of  specific 
and  continuous  forces  to  produce  them;  spe- 
cific and  accurate  beyond  the  operations  of 
any  mere  secondary  force.  Now  there  is  not 
the  least  symptom  of  the  presence  of  any 
forces  at  all,  and  they  would  have  no  fitness 
or  application  for  any  such  purpose.  Nothing 
but  one  single  force  pushing  the  moon  exactly 
as  it  moves  in  its  remarkable  course  would 
apply  at  all.  Just  as  a  man  may  push  a 
wheel-barrow  before  him.  In  that  case  we 
have  both  the  wheel-barrow  and  the  man  be- 
hind it.  But  in  the  case  of  the  moon,  there  is 
not  even  a  trail  behind  it.. 

Now  there  is  only  one  plausible  view  of  the 
moon's  motion,  and  that  is  unmistakably  self- 


14 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


motion.  Nothing  else  meets  the  requirements 
of  the  case  in  the  least.  And  what  is  true  of 
the  moon  is  also  true  of  all  the  different  bodies 
in  the  universe. 

The  votaries  of  the  inertia  and  force  theories 
are  by  no  means  satisfied  with  their  assump- 
tions about  force,  and  attempt  to  amend  it 
with  a  substitute  called  energy,  and  still 
further  by  another  substitute  in  the  shape  of 
pressure.  Now  it  is  perfectly  safe  to  say  that 
if  there  was  no  motion,  there  would  be  neither 
force,  energy,  pressure,  nor  anything  of  that 
description;  and  they  are  not  the  cause  of  any 
motion  whatever. 

THE    MOTIONS   OF    THE    UNIVERSE. 

That  there  are  only  two  possible  motions  in 
the  universe  may  seem  at  first  glance  to  be 
impossible.  It  is  strictly  true,  however.  If  a 
series  of  marks  are  made  with  a  pencil,  no 
matter  how  many,  they  will  all  be  either 
STRAIGHT  or  CURVED.  The  reason  for  that  is 
because  no  other  motion  is  possible.  This  im- 
plies that  the  operations  of  the  universe  are 


15 


CONSTITUENTS  OP  THE  UNIVERSE. 


simple,  and  the  statement  that  only  two 
motions  are  involved,  is  none  the  less  likely  to 
be  true  on  that  account. 

Motion  is  either  primary  or  secondary. 
The  primary  motions  are  either  spiral  or 
radial,  except  such  modification  as  may  occur 
from  the  circumstance  that  all  motion  is  prob- 
ably compound. 

Both  of  these  motions  are  progressive;  but 
the  spiral,  unlike  the  radial,  is  a  motion  that 
seems  to  be  chiefly,  if  not  wholly  confined  or 
restricted  to  the  limits  of  the  various  masses 
in  the  universe;  while  the  radial  is  not  thus 
circumscribed.  The  latter  is  the  motion  trans- 
mitted from  one  mass  to  others  at  such  tre- 
mendous speed,  and  practically  in  a  straight 
line,  that  being  the  shortest  line  also  between 
two  separate  points.  This  motion  is  the  means 
of  connection  between  different  masses,  or  the 
motion  of  transmission;  and  in  conjunction 
with  the  spiral  it  is  the  real  source  also  of  the 
secondary  movements,  such  for  instance,  as 
are  manifested  on  the  surface  of  the  earth. 
This  straight  line  motion  is  simple  and  appro- 


16 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


priate  in  the  greatest  degree  in  its  field  of 
operations. 

THE     SECONDARY   MOVEMENTS 

result  from  the  collision  of  the  radial  with  the 
spiral  as  the  original  source  of  these  move- 
ments, and  without  which  there  would  be  none. 

Some  of  the  secondary  movements  are  the 
results  of  animal  motion;  but  even  these 
would  never  occur  except  for  the  collision  of 
the  radial  with  the  spiral  as  the  original 
source  of  all  secondary  movements. 

If  it  were  not  for  the  radial  motion  from  the 
sun  to  the  earth,  the  only  movements  on  the 
planet  would  be  the  primary  motions  of  the 
earth  with  the  sun,  around  the  sun,  the 
diurnal  motion,  the  motion  from  which  the 
globular  form  results,  and  that  unseen  motion 
manifested  in  cohesion  and  chemical  oper- 
ations. 

The  spiral  motion  from  its  very  nature,  is 
the  motion  of  contraction  or  concentration; 
while  on  the  other  hand,  the  radial  is  natur- 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


ally  and  fitly  the  motion  of  expansion,  as  may 
readily  been  seen  from  its  results.  It  seems 
obvious  that  none  of  those  changes  so  numer- 
ous and  complex  on  the  surface  of  the  earth 
would  ever  take  place  if  there  was  no  motion 
present  but  the  spiral  movements;  for  such 
changes  only  occur  through  the  presence  and 
collision  of  two  or  more  movements. 

When  a  projectile  propelled  at  great  speed 
strikes  an  object  like  a  target,  for  instance,  a 
change  takes  place  in  proportion  to  the  sum  of 
the  movements;  although  not  until  after  the 
collision  occurs. 

In  the  case  of  the  radial  motion  from  the 
sun  the  operation  is  the  same,  as  no  so-called 
effect  from  that  motion  is  produced  until  the 
earth  is  reached  by  it. 

This  movement  from  the  sun  is  so  vast  and 
continuous  that  the  results  of  the  bombard- 
ment are  numerous  and  continuous,  as  well 
as  complex.  Nothing  else  will  account  for 
them  but  this  continued  bombardment  and 
collision. 


18 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


It  is  evident  that  this  straight  line  motion 
cannot  change  its  direction;  and  therefore 
must  continue  on  its  course  unless  intercepted. 

This  motion  is  neither  heat  nor  light,  for 
they  are  simply  the  results  of  the  collision,  or 
rather  a  part  of  the  phenomena  resulting 
therefrom.  They  merely  follow,  not  precede 
the  bombardment  from  this  movement.  How 
admirably  adapted  these  motions  appear  as 
we  study  them  in  connection  with  their  essen- 
tials, SPACE  and  TIME,  to  meet  all  the  condi- 
tions, requirements,  and  possibilities  of  the 
universe. 


19 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE, 


The  Unseen  Motion  of 
Slight  Range. 

fHAT  the  unseen  motion  which  is  supposed 
to  pertain  to  atoms  and  molecules  is  also 
a  spiral  motion,  and  in  harmony  with 
the  spiral  motions  of  masses,  there  seems  to 
be  no  reason  to  doubt.     A  curved  motion  it 
certainly  is,  and  as  there  are  only  two  curved 
motions   possible,  a  circle  and  a  spiral,  with 
nothing   whatever  to  indicate  that  it  is  a  cir- 
cular movement,  it  follows  that  it  must  neces- 
sarily be  a  spiral  one. 

In  short,  the  evidence  that  it  is  spiral  is  of 
the  most  Convincing  character.  A  motion  it 
must  necessarily  be;  for  nothing  but  that  has 
any  fitness  or  application  for  such  purpose. 

So-called  chemical  affinity,  which  is  only 
another  name  for  attraction,  is  a  myth;  and  it 
is  equivalent  to  asserting  that  there  is  no 
movement  whatever  in  such  a  case;  for  no 
motion  can  be  made  in  any  such  manner. 


CoNSTlTt  fiN^S  0#  THE   UNIVERSE. 


This  motion  too,  is  one  of  the  primary 
motions  that  cannot  be  made.  It  is  simply 
self  motion. 

Chemical  affinity  then  practically  ignores 
the  entire  function  of  motion  in  the  case,  and 
yet  motion  is  specifically  what  those  changes 
are  that  take  place  in  chemical  operations. 

The  motion  too,  is  not  imparted  to  the  parts 
that  undergo  the  changes  by  anything  not  re- 
siding in  those  parts.  Now  that  particular 
motion  would  most  assuredly  be  like  and  in 
harmony  with  the  mass  movements  which  we 
know  are  spiral. 

That  movement  is  a  very  intense  one.  We 
perceive  its  resisting  features  in  what  is  called 
cohesion.  Its  operation  is  plainly  manifested 
in  welding;  for  it  is  easy  to  comprehend  that 
the  parts  which  are  thus  united  are  enabled  to 
come  together  in  this  way,  as  they  do,  and  in 
no  other. 

Now,  the  circle  being  the  only  other  curved 
motion  has  no  adaptability  for  any  such  pur- 
pose as  this.  It  is  simply  a  non-progressive 


21 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


motion.  The  ring  and  the  corkscrew  aptly 
illustrate  the  fitness  of  one,  and  the  unfitness 
of  the  other  for  practical  operations. 

The  spiral  is  a  penetrating,  mingling,  cling- 
ing, progressive  movement,  and  at  the  same 
time  a  resisting  one;  as  we  can  easily  recog- 
nize from  its  manifestations  in  a  steel  rail 
against  the  motion  of  the  locomotive. 

It  is  doubtful  about  there  being  such  a  thing 
as  a  circular  movement  in  the  primary  or  self- 
motions  of  the  universe;  while  there  is  no  sort 
of  doubt  about  the  spiral  ones. 

In  fact  the  circle  only  occurs  in  the  second- 
ary motions,  and  as  the  secondary  motions 
simply  result  from  the  primary  movements, 
through  their  co-operation,  we  readily  see 
that  without  that  co-operation  they  would 
never  occur.  It  is  impossible  to  see  how 
a  circular  motion  could  blend  with  the  motions 
that  are  spiral,  to  harmoniously  co-operate 
and  comprise  the  great  whole  of  a  sphere  like 
the  earth. 

The  circle  in  the  operations  of  the  universe 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


may  be  fitly  recognized  as  a  cipher  for  which 
there  is  no  use  in  the  economy  of  that  uni- 
verse. 

Another  convincing  item  of  proof  that  this 
unseen  motion  is  spiral,  will  be  plainly  recog- 
nized in  the  fact  that  the  resistance  to  pulling 
a  substance  apart  is  much  greater  than  the 
resistance  to  crushing;  which  is  precisely 
what  we  would  expect  from  the  clinging  fea- 
ture of  this  movement.  Indeed  it  is  not  easy 
to  see  how  or  why  there  could  be  any  tensile 
resistance  if  the  motion  was  circular. 

The  movement  involved  in  capillary  attrac- 
tion is  easily  explained  by  the  action  of  this 
climbing,  clinging  motion;  and  very  difficult 
by  any  other  means. 

The  mingling  of  gases  of  different  specific 
gravity  can  readily  be  accounted  for  in  this 
way  also. 

So-called  attraction  of  cohesion  can  be  ex- 
plained on  this  hypothesis  and  no  other.  The 
assumption  that  the  atoms  of  a  solid  are  held 
in  position  by  their  mutual  attraction  to  pro- 


23 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


duce  that  cohesion  is  absurd,  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  the  cohesion  is  neutralized  entirely 
by  separating  them  in  so  slight  a  degree; 
especially  when  these  identical  atoms  are 
alleged  to  attract  all  others,  regardless  of 
distance. 

Cohesion  is  due  to  motion  only.  Not  a 
straight  motion,  for  that  produces  exactly  the 
opposite  result;  nor  by  a  circular  one,  as  co- 
hesion cannot  occur  in  that  way;  the  spiral 
movement  is  the  real  explanation. 


24 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


So-Called  Attraction. 

fP  all  the  prominent  errors  in  the  field  of 
science,  attraction  stands  at  the  head. 
"As    certain    as    the   laws   of    gravita- 
tion," is  a  common  expression.     BUT   THERE 

ARE  NO  LAWS  OF  GRAVITATION,  AND  NO  ATTRAC- 

TION OF  ANY  KIND.  What  is  supposed  to  be 
attraction  of  gravitation  is  nothing  but  that 
mode  of  motion  from  which  the  globular  form 
results.  Attraction  implies  that  two  separate 
and  distinct  things  can  and  do  compel  each 
other  to  move  in  opposite  directions,  each 
towards  the  other;  which  is  a  flat  impossibility. 

Instead  of  its  being  a  fact  that  one  thing 
that  has  no  connection  with  another,  can  com- 
pel the  other  thing  to  move  towards  itself,  it  is 
exactly  the  contrary.  For  instance  a  man  can 
push  a  wheel-barrow  in  the  direction  that  he 
is  moving,  but  he  cannot  make  the  wheel-bar- 
row move  towards  himself  when  he  is  not  in 
contact  or  connection  with  it. 

There  is  no  attraction,  and  nothing  can  be 


25 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


influenced  in  a  manner  so  absurd.     One  thing 
can  only  repel  or  impel  another. 

Repulsion,  or  the  resistance  that  one  move- 
ment opposes  to  another  when  they  meet  in 
contact,  is  an  accomplished  fact;  while  attrac- 
tion never  occurs. 

In  the  face  of  the  fact  then,  that  things 
when  moved  by  other  things  always  move  in 
precisely  the  opposite  direction  to  what  attrac- 
tion would  impart;  it  substantially  amounts  to 
a  contradiction  to  assert  that  they  can  be  made 
to  move  exactly  the  other  way,  as  they  would 
have  to,  if  there  is  such  a  force  as  attraction. 

The  motion  of  things  is  harmonious,  simple 
and  consistent;  not  inharmonious,  inconsistent 
and  incomprehensible  like  assumed  attraction. 

There  is  no  such  thing  as  force,  and  force 
does  not  cause  motion.  Motion  can  only  cause 
motion  or  change.  If  we  were  to  assume  that 
it  is  otherwise,  we  should  still  find  that  motion 
always  precedes  force,  while  attraction  implies 
that  force  precedes  motion;  which  is  an  impos- 
sibility. 


26 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


Attraction  implies  that  a  thing  can  operate 
where  it  is  not,  which  is  another  impossibility. 

While  one  thing  cannot  and  does  not  at- 
tract another,  it  can,  and  may  move  towards 
another,  simply,  and  consistently,  by  virtue  of 
its  own  self  motion;  and  that  is  precisely  what 
has  been  mistaken  for  attraction  of  gravita- 
tion. There  is  no  mystery  or  inconsistency 
involved  in  that,  for  it  is  the  simple  truth, 
which  is  never  inconsistent. 

Attraction  is  a  mere  assumption,  but  a  huge 
mistake.  It  assumes  that  a  single  atom  of 
matter  attracts,  and  is  in  turn  attracted  by 
every  atom  of  matter  in  the  universe.  If  that 
were  true,  there  could  not  be  but  one  mass  or 
body  in  the  whole  universe. 

The  same  objections  that  have  been  made  to 
attraction  of  gravitation  apply  to  every  mode 
of  supposed  attraction.  The  other  modes  are 
further  considered  in  connection  with  items 
that  legitimately  belong  to  this  subject. 


27 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


So-Called  Weight. 

]IGHT  is  nothing  but  what  gravitation 
is  assumed  to  be.  If  it  is,  then  there  is 
no  attraction  of  gravitation.  But  the 

fact  is,  there  is  neither  weight  nor  attraction. 

The   same  thing  that  has  been  mistaken  for 

either,    has    been    mistaken    for    the     other; 

and  that  thing  is  one  of  the  several  modes  or 

manifestations  of  self  motion. 

If  so-called  weight  was  anything  but  that 
mode  of  self  motion  that  produces  the  globe. 
it  would  be  utterly  incomprehensible. 

Formerly  matter  was  considered  to  be 
ponderable  or  having  weight,  and  imponder- 
able, possessing  no  weight,  like  heat,  light  and 
electricity. 

These  three  imponderables  are  now  regarded 
as  modes  of  motion,  and  with  equal  propriety 
the  same  view  may  be  taken  of  the  ponder- 
ables or  those  supposed  to  possess  weight. 

For  instance,  the  earth  has  a  motion  on  its 


28 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


axis,  another  around  the  sun,  another  with  the 
sun,  and  still  another  motion  that  makes  the 
globular  form. 

That  particular  movement  has  been  singled 
out  by  scientists  and  called  WEIGHT.  But  there 
is  no  more  reason  for  that  conclusion  than 
there  would  be  if  they  had  selected  the  motion 
around  the  sun,  which  is  a  far  greater  motion, 
about  nineteen  miles  a  second. 

In  fact  there  is  a  better  reason  for  calling 
the  latter  motion  weight,  as  in  that  case  the 
earth  would  at  least  weigh  something  in  the 
direction  that  it  moves,  while  in  the  other  case, 
the  earth  as  a  whole  would  weigh  nothing,  for 
the  very  good  reason  that  each  half  would  just 
balance  or  off-set  the  other  half. 

If  two  men  were  pushing  each  other  in 
exactly  equal  proportions,  there  would  be  no 
surplus  of  anything  aside  from  the  balance  or 
effort,  to  be  transmitted  in  any  direction. 

If  an  object  is  weighed  in  a  given  place  the 
motion  will  be  in  precisely  the  opposite  direc- 
tion from  what  the  motion  of  another  object 


29 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


would  be  if  weighed  at  the  same  instant  on 
exactly  the  opposite  side  of  the  earth  . 

This  shows  that  with  reference  to  anything 
but  the  center  of  the  earth,  no  two  objects 
point  or  move,  when  weighed,  in  the  same 
direction. 

More  than  this,  owing  to  the  constant  shift- 
ing of  the  earth,  the  same  thing  never  points 
in  the  same  direction  except  for  that  instant  of 
time.  It  is  clear  then,  that  if  there  was  no 
other  motion  than  the  one  called  weight,  there 
would  be  no  other  tendency  or  manifestation 
aside  from  that  so-called  weight.  In  that  case 
the  earth  as  a  whole,  would  not  weigh  any- 
thing. 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


So-Called  Design. 

fHE  assumption  so  thoughtlessly  and  com- 
monly made  that  there  is  evidence  of  DE- 
SIGN in  the  universe,  is  squarely  met  by 
the  logical  answer  that  there  would  be  in  that 
case  an  equal,  if  not  a  still  better  reason  for 
assuming  that  a  much  greater  designer  would 
have  been  required  to  design  the  alleged  de- 
signer, and  so  on  AD  INFINITUM. 

But  what  possible  connection  could  a  de- 
signer have  with  space?  In  fact  it  is  impos- 
sible to  conceive  how  a  universe  would  require 
that  space  should  or  could  have  been  designed 
at  all;  and  yet  space  is  one  of  the  great  essen- 
tials, the  great  base  of  operations,  as  it  were. 
Nothing  could  have  preceded  it,  and  instead 
of  being  designed,  it  would  necessarily  have 
preceded  all  designers  that  ever  could  be 
designed. 

Space  certainly  required  no  designing  and 
was  not  dependent  upon  any  contingency. 
The  same  can  be  said  of  time,  another  of  the 
great  essentials. 


31 


CONSTITUENTS  OP  THE  UNIVERSE. 


The  only  thing  left  then  for  an  imaginary 
designer  to  design,  (and  there  is  no  other 
breed  of  designers  but  imaginary  ones)  is 
motion.  Now  motion  is  continuous,  endless 
and  eternal,  like  both  space  and  time.  It 
would  require  no  designer  to  make  it,  and  was 
never  made  at  all.  It  is  simply  self-existent. 

But  suppose  that  it  was  designed  and  made 
to  order,  as  it  were,  the  designing  would 
amount  to  nothing  without  the  making  or  exe- 
cuting; but  that  would  have  required  an  effort 
equal  to,  or  greater  than  the  entire  sum  of 
motion  in  the  universe  for  all  time  .  If  that 
would  not  amount  to  an  absurdity,  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  conceive  what  would  constitute  one. 

There  is  something  more  that  is  quite  out 
of  joint  with  this  design  and  designer  pro- 
gram. The  difficulty  is  that  it  is  purely 
speculative  and  imaginary,  while  no  two  of  its 
votaries  have  the  same  views  about  it.  In 
point  of  fact,  there  is  nothing  in  the  universe 
that  a  designer  could  do,  and  everything  that 
he  could  not  do.  Design  is  merely  an  animal 
faculty,  and  in  the  very  nature  of  things, 


32 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


would   have  to  follow,  and  not   precede   the 

making  of  a   universe.  This  fact  leaves  the 

designing  scheme  in  an  exceedingly  awkward 
predicament. 

Design  would  cut  no  figure  in  making  the 
very  things  that  are  assumed  to  have  been 
designed.  There  is  nothing  fit  or  applicable 
about  it,  although,  like  other  accepted  shams, 
it  has  been  a  huge  obstruction  in  the  path  of 
progress. 

Design  implies  a  beginning,  or  time  when 
there  was  nothing,  and  a  later  time  when 
something  was  got  up  out  of  nothing,  and  the 
legitimate  result  of  the  whole  scheme  amounts 
to  nothing. 

What  sort  of  a  figure  would  a  designer  cut 
in  chemistry  for  instance?  His  best  efforts  in 
producing  even  an  image  of  a  person  would  go 
no  farther  than  a  tobacco  sign.  The  whole 
crude  scheme  is  merely  the  result  of  wrong 
views  and  the  most  superficial  reasoning,  or 
none  at  all;  precisely  that  kind  which  is  sure 
to  mislead,  and  that  is  exactly  what  it  has 
done. 


33 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


The  very  essentials  of  the  universe  are 
simply  continuous,  and  for  that  reason  alone, 
could  not  have  been  designed,  nor  made, 
neither  can  they  be  destroyed. 

SPACE,  TIME  and  MOTION,  had  no  beginning 
and  will  have  no  end;  and  the  only  sensible 
thing  to  do  is  to  recognize  their  presence  while 
we  study  their  phenomena. 


34 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


So-Called  First  Cause. 

fHE  theory  of  design  appears  to  have  a  sort 
of  substitute  or   competitor  in  the  field 
called  "First  Cause,"  or   another   great 
unknown   instigator   of  the  universe,  that  of 
course  never  was  instigated. 

Design,  as  has  been  said,  is  merely  planning. 
Simply  the  work  of  the  brain.  It  implies  no 
other  effort.  No  so-called  force,  such  as  is 
supposed  by  its  adherents  to  move  worlds, 
even  when  it  does  nothing  of  the  sort. 

Now,  if  there  is  such  a  thing  as  a  cause,  it 
implies  effort  or  action,  always  as  great  or 
greater  than  the  eifect  produced.  A  first 
cause  then,  would  logically  have  to  be  as  great 
or  greater  than  all  future  effects.  It  would  be 
emphatically  a  contract  of  the  first  magnitude 
to  make  and  keep  the  unknown  millions  of 
systems  in  the  universe  in  such  tremendous 
motion  forever. 

It  is  far  more  difficult  to  form  a  rational 
conception  of  such  meaningless  trash  as  the 


35 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


imaginary  first  cause,  than  it  is  to  compre- 
hend the  simple  rational  view  that  space,  time, 
and  motion  are  eternal.  We  know  they  are 
present  facts,  and  the  only  legitimate  inference 
is  that  they  always  were  and  ever  will  be 
such. 

The  situation  is  not  mended  in  the  least  by 
such  trumpery  as  first  cause  and  design,  nor 
in  fact  does  it  require  any  such  tinkering.  All 
such  trash  is  simply  ridiculous  and  would  be 
undeserving  the  least  consideration,  were  it 
not  unfortunately  the  fact  that  they  are 
accepted  AS  TRUTHS,  and  have  proven  stumb- 
ling blocks  in  the  path  of  knowledge  and 
progress. 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


So-Called  Laws  of  Nature. 

N  addition  to  these  assumptions  concerning 
design   and   first   cause,   there  is  another 
near    relative     labelled    ''The     Laws     of 
Nature;"    and    this,  like   the  others,   is  still 
another  bar  and  not  an  aid  to  discovery. 

This  indefinite  and  unmeaning  phrase  ap- 
pears to  be  susceptible  of  indicating  almost 
anything  but  the  real  facts  in  the  case.  It  is 
frequently  made  use  of  to  express  not  what  is 
actually  known,  but  rather  something  merely 
guessed  at.  The  expression  is  inappropriate 
and  misleading,  for  there  is  no  such  tiling  as 
the  laws  of  nature  in  point  of  fact,  whatever 
else  there  may  be.  Of  course  there  are  truths 
regarding  the  universe,  and  a  simple  state- 
ment of  them  is  far  better,  as  it  conveys  no 
false  impression. 

Those  who  have  been  freely  referring  to 
these  imaginary  laws  have  made  a  series  of 
almost  ludicrous  mistakes,  with  scarcely  a 
single  truth  in  their  assumptions  about  the 
actual  operations  of  the  universe. 


37 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


Something  like  a  dozen  great  leading  errors 
have  been  proclaimed  as  facts,  and  generally 
accepted;  practically  stifling  further  inquiry 
and  investigation  in  this  all-important  line. 
There  could  hardly  be  another  such  object  les- 
sion  as  these  false  assumptions  furnish  of  the 
truth  of  the  assertion  that  error  is  even 
worse  than  ignorance;  as  the  latter  at  least 
leaves  the  door  open  to  further  investigation. 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


So-Called   Matter. 

S  there  such  a  thing  in  the  universe  as  MAT- 
TER is  supposed  to  be?  To  that  question 
the  stereotyped  answer  will  be,  "Certainly 
there  is."  But  that,  after  all,  amounts  to 
nothing  in  settling  this  question.  If  it  is  in- 
deed a  fact  that  there  is  matter,  it  is,  unfor- 
tunately not  a  self-evident  one  like  SPACE, 
TIME  or  MOTION;  and  this,  of  itself,  is  a  very 
serious  feature  in  the  case;  for  if  it  is  really 
true,  it  would  certainly  seem  that  it  ought  to 
be  the  plainest,  clearest,  and  most  convincing 
of  all  truths;  in  short,  a  iruth  that  would  need 
no  evidence  to  support  it;  while,  at  the  same 
time,  it  would  have  ample  evidence  in  its  be- 
half. On  the  contrary,  it  requires  proof  to  es- 
tablish that  it  is  a  reality,  and  not  an  error. 

Now  the  evidence  offered  to  prove  that  there 
is  any  matter,  is  singularly  weak  and  uncon- 
vincing; while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  objec- 
tions appear  to  be  of  the  most  formidable 
kind. 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


One  of  the  items  chiefly  relied  upon  for 
proof,  is  that  it  appeals  directly  to  the  senses. 
But  that  is  not  conclusive  for  these  reasons: 
The  senses,  unaided  by  analytical  reasoning 
frequently  lead  us  astray,  as  for  instance,  with 
reference  to  the  form  of  the  earth,  on  the  ques- 
tion of  inertia,  and  in  numerous  other  cases. 

A  still  better  reason,  though,  for  not  accept- 
ing this  as  evidence,  is  because  motion  does 
the  same  thing  in  the  very  same  cases  that 
are  relied  upon  to  prove  the  presence  of  mat- 
ter. Now,  in  consideration  of  the  fact  that  we 
known  there  is  motion,  and  don't  know  there 
is  matter,  the  inference  is  a  very  plausible  one 
that  it  is  motion  alone,  and  not  matter  at  all, 
that  is  proved  by  this  circumstance. 

As  motion  is  certainly  recognized  through 
the  senses,  and  as  superfluities  are  not  known 
to  exist  in  the  simple  and  efficient  economy  of 
the  universe,  the  presumption  is  against  the 
existence  of  matter  so  far  as  this  item  goes,  or 
at  least  not  in  favor  of  it. 

Another  item  also  relied  on  to  prove  that 
there  is  matter,  is  that  it  occupies  space,  or 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


takes  up  room.  In  answer  to  that,  we  will 
admit  that  if  there  is  matter,  it  must  neces- 
sarily occupy  space,  or  take  up  room.  There 
is  no  doubt  whatever  about  the  room,  but  how 
do  we  know  that  it  is  occupied  by  matter? 
Motion  again  does  the  same  thing;  for  that 
occupies  space,  or  takes  up  room. 

When  a  solid  explodes,  hundreds  of  times 
more  room  is  occupied  by  the  motion  that  fol- 
lows the  change  from  the  solid  to  the  gas;  yet 
there  was  the  same  amount  of  motion  in  the 
solid  before  the  explosion  that  there  was  in 
the  gas  at  the  time  of  the  explosion. 

When  a  given  quantity  of  carbon,  say 
twelve  pounds,  unite  with  thirty-two  pounds 
of  oxygen  to  produce  forty-four  pounds  of  car- 
bon dioxide,  there  is  after  the  change  has 
occurred,  precisely  the  same  amount  of  motion 
in  the  forty-four  pounds  of  carbon  dioxide  that 
was  in  the  twelve  pounds  of  carbon  and  the 
thirty-two  pounds  of  oxygen  before  the  chemi- 
cal change  occurred.  That  fact  is  established 
convincingly  by  the  motion  called  weight  re- 
maining the  same. 


41 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


When  carbon  dioxide  is  produced  by  com- 
bustion, a  collision  occurs  between  the  oxygen 
and  carbon  that  is  just  equal  in  amount  to  the 
motion  that  is  arrested  by  that  occurrence, 
precisely  as  if  two  bullets  in  their  flight  should 
meet  in  mid-air. 

If  a  piston  is  raised  in  a  cylinder  a  certain 
distance,  by  the  motion  of  a  gas,  the  same  pis- 
ton will  be  raised  twice  that  distance  with  the 
same  quantity  of  gas,  by  raising  the  tempera- 
ture a  sufficient  degree;  but  how  could  that 
be  accomplised  except  for  the  reason  that 
motion  takes  up  room? 

The  motion  called  heat  always  takes  up 
room  in  proportion  to  the  quantity  in  any 
given  case.  Space  is  absolutely  essential  to 
motion,  and  the  earth  occupies  a  quantity  of 
space  in  its  yearly  motion  around  the  sun  of 
probably  more  than  a  hundred  thousand  times 
its  own  quantity  or  volume.  As  motion  has 
volume  or  quantity,  the  rational  inference 
seems  to  be  that  it  has  been  mistaken  for  mat- 
ter in  this  very  particular,  and  principally  for 
this  very  same  reason. 


42 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


The  third  item  of  proof  ventured  in  behalf 
of  matter  is  that  it  has  weight.  But  there  is 
no  weight,  for  that  is  simply  one  of  the  several 
manifestations  of  mass-motion,  that  has  less 
claim  to  be  called  weight  than  other  motions 
that  we  know  to  have  none.  THAT  motion  is 
a  balanced  motion,  and  the  whole  earth  weighs 
nothing  for  that  reason,  and  also  for  the  addi- 
tional reason  that  NO  MODE  OF  MOTION  has  any 
weight. 

Now,  the  believers  in  the  existence  of  mat- 
ter recognize  that  truth  when  they  admit  that 
heat,  light  and  electricity  are  only  different 
modes  of  motion.  They  say  that  all  matter 
has  weight,  and  in  so  doing,  they  draw  a  line 
between  these  three  items  and  what  they  call 
matter.  As  there  is  no  such  thing  as  weight, 
they  must  consistently  admit  that  there  is 
nothing  but  motion,  or  be  obliged  to  accept  the 
proposition  that  heat,  light  and  electricity  are 
also  matter.  In  point  of  fact,  but  one  con- 
clusion is  admissible;  either  they  are  all  mat- 
ter, or  they  are  all  motion  arid  motion  only. 


43 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE, 


Now,  as  there  is  nothing  whatever  to  prove 
that  the  imponderables  are  MATTER,  while  there 
is  ample  evidence  that  they  are  simply  MOTION; 
it  follows  logically  that  the  supposed  ponder- 
ables are  like  the  others,  nothing  but  motion. 

One  thing  at  least  seems  to  be  pretty  clear 
about  the  proof  offered  that  there  is  matter, 
and  that  is  the  absence  of  any  weight  at  all  in 
that  evidence.  The  fact  that  chemical  com- 
pounds are  made  up  of  supposed  atoms,  or  in 
some  definite  manner,  as  they  undoubtedly 
are,  is  also  relied  on  to  establish  the  existence 
of  matter;  but  this  like  the  other  items  already 
examined,  amounts  to  nothing  for  the  same 
reason  that  has  been  given  in  the  previous  ex- 
ample, that  MOTION  does  just  what  is  here 
alleged  of  MATTER. 

The  motion  called  weight  we  know  indicates 
the  amount  of  movement  manifested  in  that 
way  with  perfect  accuracy.  While  the  diurnal 
motion  is  equally  specific  and  accurate  the 
motion  around  the  sun  is  also  just  as  definite 
and  reliable.  What  then,  could  be  more 
reasonable  than  the  inference  that  the  unseen 


44 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


motion  of  chemistry  and  cohesion  is  equally 
definite  and  precise?  In  fact,  it  is  difficult  to 
resist  that  conclusion,  for  it  would  be  exceed- 
ingly likely  that  this  motion  would  be  in  per- 
fect harmony  with  all  the  other  primary 
motions  of  the  universe. 

This  precision  of  movement,  this  definite 
feature  of  all  known  modes  of  motion,  which 
is  in  all  probability  true  of  the  unseen,  appears 
to  be  just  what  has  caused  the  chemist's  mis- 
take about  his  atoms  and  matter,  and  of  which 
we  know  nothing  whatever. 

Right  here  we  will  assume  that  this  precise, 
definite,  unseen  motion,  which  is  a  part  of 
the  great  primary  movement  of  the  planet,  is 
the  corner  stone,  as  it  were,  of  chemistry.  It 
is  fortunate  for  the  practical  chemiet  that  his 
processes  are  not  like  his  theories,  for  if  they 
were  he  would  have  nothing  but  mixtures  in- 
stead of  chemical  compounds,  so  radically 
different  from  his  assumed  e]ements.  This,  at 
least,  is  all  that  could  reasonably  be  expected 
of  his  imaginary  atom,  as  will  clearly  appear. 


45 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


The  chemist  regards  the  supposed  matter 
as  existing  in  atoms  and  molecules;  masses 
being  aggregations  of  molecules.  He  also  be- 
lieves that  all  matter  is  made  up  of  some  sixty 
odd  elements,  out  of  which  a  vast  and  varied 
number  of  compounds  are  formed  chemically. 
The  elements  are  held  to  consist  exclusively  of 
the  same  kind  of  atoms,  while  the  compounds 
have  two  or  more  atoms  of  a  different  kind. 
He  discovers  that  the  most  radical  changes 
take  place  when  a  compound  is  produced  by  a 
chemical  process,  the  compound  being  mark- 
edly different  from  the  elements  that  compose 
it.  He  finds  that  this  radical  change  does  not 
take  place  in  a  simple  mixture  of  different 
elements,  but  only  occurs  when  these  different 
elements  unite  or  combine  to  produce  a  chemi- 
cal compound.  The  chemical  operation  is 
supposed  to  be  due  to  a  special  mode  of  so- 
called  attraction  labelled  chemical  affinity. 

From  this  statement  it  appears  that  what- 
ever change  occurs,  it  is  not  to  be  attributed  to 
the  molecule.  It  must  necessarily  be  due  to 
the  atoms  then,  and  this  last  item  deserves  the 


46 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


most  serious  consideration  because  the  atom 
must  be  either  changeable,  or  unchangeable. 
Now  it  matters  not  which  view  is  taken  of  it, 
for  EITHER  ONE  leaves  the  present  chemical 
theory  in  a  pretty  bad  fix. 

If  it  is  assumed  that  the  atoms  are  change- 
able, then  there  is  no  longer  an  element.  It  is 
in  fact,  precisely  the  reason  why  the  chemist 
regards  the  atoms  as  unchangeable  that  he 
believes  they  are  elementary  and  not  com- 
pound. He  cannot  consistently  take  any 
other  view  than  that  the  atoms  are  fixed  and 
unalterable;  and  that  is  exactly  the  view  he 
does  take  of  them.  Now  the  difficulty  with 
this  view  of  the  atom  is  that  it  is  absolutely 
impossible  for  a  chemical  change  to  occur 
under  that  condition;  because  with  unchange- 
able atoms  or  quantities,  it  would  be  impossi- 
ble to  make  anything  but  a  mixture. 

This  will  plainly  appear  if  a  quantity  of 
shot  of  different  material  are  mingled  together, 
when  a  mixture  ONLY  will  result  from  the  ex- 
periment; nor  will  it  make  any  difference,  no 
matter  what  the  size  of  the  parts  may  be.  All 


47 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


of  this  would  prove  just  the  same  if  the  sup- 
posed atoms  were  substituted  for  the  shot. 
This  leaves  the  present  theory  of  chemical 
changes  in  a  ridiculous  plight;  for  this  theory 
literally  assumes  that  those  changes  will  result 
when  absolutely  unchangeable  atoms  or  quan- 
tities are  employed,  and  in  conjunction  with 
an  imaginary  force  or  assistant  called  chemi- 
cal affinity,  or  in  other  words,  with  atoms 
that  can't  change,  and  a  motion  that  can't 
move.  Was  there  ever  anything  more  balky? 

MOTION   EXPLAINS   ALL  PHENOMENA. 

While  the  theory  of  matter  is  beset  with 
such  fatal  objections,  and  utterly  fails  to 
account  for  the  actual  manifestations  in 
the  universe,  there  are  no  phenomena  that 
the  known  constituents,  Space,  Time  and 
Motion  will  not  account  for,  and  the  reason  for 
this  is,  that  there  is  nothing  but  these  three 
essentials.  All  of  the  phenomena  in  the  uni- 
verse are  but  motion  and  its  changes,  and 
MOTION  is  the  only  item  that  can  possibly 
change. 


48 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


The  theory  of  matter  and  atoms,  or  elements, 
gets  a  set-back  in  by  far  the  most  important 
and  most  abundant  of  all  the  elements,  oxygen, 
which  is  about  two-thirds  of  the  whole,  lor  this 
element  is  recognized  in  two  forms,  when  there 
could  not  possibly  be  but  one  if  the  theory  were 
true.  This  doubled-faced  characteristic  of  an 
element  is  called  alotropism. 

Sulphur  is  in  the  same  predicament,  while 
phosphorus,  when  simply  heated  to  about  240 
degrees,  centigrade,  for  a  considerable  time, 
under  conditions  that  preclude  chemical 
changes,  is  radically  changed  in  twelve  im- 
portant particulars;  and  with  an  addition  of 
about  twenty  degrees  more  of  heat,  is  changed 
back  to  its  original  state.  How  can  all  this, 
or  any  of  it,  be  explained  by  such  a  theory? 
Oxygen  being  two-thirds  of  the  whole,  with 
nearly  half  of  the  supposed  elements  a  mere 
trifle,  furnishes  another  hint  that  the  atomic 
theory  is  false. 

If  there  is  any  matter,  there  is  a  point  at  which 
division  must  necessarily  stop,  or  there  would 
be  no  atoms  left,  and  hence  no  molecules. 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE, 


Now,  wherever  in  point  of  minuteness  the  atoms 
would  stop,  motion  would  not  necessarily  stop 
at  any  such  a  point,  and  that  fact,  taken  in  con- 
nection with  some  of  the  phenomena  pertain- 
ing to  life,  plainly  indicates  that  such  pheno- 
mena are  due,  not  to  clumsy,  inert  matter,  but 

tO    REAL  LIVE    MOTION. 

The  very  fact  that  atoms  would  have  to  be 
indivisible,  would  not  be  at  all  in  keeping  with 
either  of  the  three  great  essentials;  for  they  are 
all  infinitely  divisible.  Here,  then,  is  a  radical 
departure  from  the  characteristics  of  the  known 
constituents  of  the  universe,  and  that,  too,  sug- 
gests that  there  are  no  atoms;  therefore  no 
matter. 

In  point  of  fact,  if  there  are  any  phenomena 
that  the  theory  of  atoms  and  matter  will  ac- 
count for,  they  are  not  apparent;  while  Space, 
Time  and  Motion  must  and  will  account  for  all. 

The  science  of  chemistry  is  all  right  prac- 
tically, and  all  wrong  theoretically.  In  assum- 
ing that  there  is  matter  as  the  present  theory 
does,  consisting  of  compounds  and  elements 


50 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


that  make  up  those  compounds,  and  the  whole 
made  up  of  atoms,  obstacles  are  encountered 
at  once;  for  the  atoms  will  not  make  the  chem- 
ical changes  at  all,  as  they  are  not  convertible, 
even  if  there  are  any.  There  is  no  way  out  of 
the  predicament  in  which  this  theory  leaves 
us,  fur,  if  there  are  no  atoms  there  is  no  matter, 
and  if  there  are  atoms,  they  will  not  make 
changes  and  hence  no  compounds;  and  if  they 
can  make  no  changes  and  no  compounds,  then 
where  is  the  matter? 

When  the  chemist  finds  a  radical  difference 
between  compounds  composed  of  the  same  kind 
and  the  same  number  of  atoms,  and  finds  no 
better  reason  for  that  difference  than  a  differ- 
ent arrangement  of  those  atoms  in  space,  he 
ought  to  be  able  to  work  out  all  his  problems 
in  practical  chemistry  with  nothing  but  a  sort 
of  checker  board,  as  that  would  be  in  line  with 
his  theory. 

When  he  mingles  iron  and  sulphur,  no  mat- 
ter how  thoroughly  or  how  fine  the  division  of 
the  materials,  and  obtains  nothing  but  a  simple 
mixture,  we  have  the  theory  of  chemical 


51 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


changes  fully  and  fairly  illustrated.  When  he 
heats  those  materials  sufficiently  a  radical 
change  takes  place,  and  a  real  chemical  com- 
pound is  the  result;  which  no  amount  of  mix- 
ing and  mingling  would  imitate. 

While  the  chemist  always  requires  two  or 
more  of  his  theoretical  elements  in  connection 
with  his  balky  movement  to  produce  nothing 
but  a  mixture,  there  is  at  the  same  time,  in 
spite  of  his  absurd  theories,  a  mode  of  opera- 
tion or  manifestation  from  which  real  chemical 
changes  result.  These  changes  are  not  mere 
mixtures,  in  which  nothing  different  appears; 
for  they  are  radical  in  the  extreme.  Now,  the 
reason  why  these  radical  changes,  usually 
termed  chemical,  manifest  themselves,  has 
already  been  truthfully  stated  in  saying  that 
changes  only  occur  from  collision  or  arrested 
motion. 

When  mechanical  motion  alone  can  be 
changed  to  electrical  movement  in  the  man- 
ner here  indicated,  giving  us  a  change  as  radi- 
cal as  anything  chemistry  discloses,  and  all 
this  with  but  one  item,  instead  of  two  or  more 


52 


CONSTITUENTS  of1  THE  UNIVERSE. 


assumed  elements,  we  have  the  real  key  to  the 
whole  of  these  changes.  When  the  electrical 
movement  can  in  this  identical  way  be  made 
to  assume  the  motions  called  heat,  and  light; 
we  have  this  statement  completely  vindicated. 
When,  again,  these  motions  are  reversed,  the 
evidence  is  overwhelming. 

Special  attention  is  here  directed  to  the  sig- 
nificant fact  that  in  all  of  these  marked  and 
specific  changes,  nothing  whatever  is  involved 
but  MOTION,  DURING  TIME,  and  IN  SPACE.  Mat- 
ter, it  will  be  clearly  perceived,  was  not 
involved  in  the  least  in  these  known  oper- 
ations. Inasmuch,  then,  as  the  imaginary 
matter  is  so  completely  ignored  and  discredited 
bv  the  action  of  these  imponderables,  and  in 
consideration  of  the  fact  that  the  supposed 
ponderables,  are  after  all,  really  imponderable 
like  the  others,  and  knowing  also  that  the  im- 
ponderables are  only  motion,  what  possible 
ground  is  then  left  for  the  assumption  that 
there  is  any  such  thing  as  matter? 


63 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


Electricity. 


[HIS  manifestation,  or  mode  of  motion  —  for 
it  is  nothing  more  nor  less  —  has  proved 
to  be  one  of  the  most  puzzling  problems 
in  the  whole  range  of  science.  It  has  been  re- 
garded as  a  kind  of  imponderable  matter,  and 
as  nothing  but  very  FINE  MATTER  produced  by 
friction.  It  is  at  present  treated  by  some  as 
force,  energy,  or  pressure,  and  by  most  people 
as  a  profound  mystery.  There  is  nothing  mys- 
terious about  any  truth,  as  we  can  readily  per- 
ceive when  that  truth  is  recognized;  while  all 
mystery  is  confined  strictly  to  the  unknown. 

One  reason  why  this  motion  is  so  little  un- 
derstood is  because  it  is  one  of  the  invisible 
movements.  If  it  could  be  seen,  as  we  see  a 
current  or  stream  of  water,  or  a  gas  having 
color,  most  of  the  mystery  would  vanish.  There 
is  no  force,  energy,  or  pressure  involved,  aside 
from,  or  in  addition  to  the  simple  movement 
itself.  It  has  volume,  or  quantity,  is  measur- 
able like  other  motions,  and  can  be  changed  or 
converted  into  other  motions. 


54 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


This  mode  of  motion  has  greater  range  than 
that  manifested  in  cohesion  and  chemical 
changes.  It  is  the  mode  that  bears  the  closest 
resemblance  to  the  radial,  but  unlike  that 
seems  to  be  confined  to  the  limits  of  the  mass 
on  which  it  is  manifested. 

It  is  a  movement  of  great  velocity  as  com- 
pared to  any  other  motion  made  use  of  in  the 
arts,  and  for  that  reason  a  proportionately  less 
quantity  is  required  to  accomplish  the  same 
amount  of  work  or  to  overcome  the  same  re- 
sistance. 

The  most  important  feature  of  this  motion  is 
its  convenience  and  adaptability  to  various  re- 
quirements, many  of  which  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult if  not  impossible  to  accomplish  by  any 
other  means;  and  in  the  future,  it  will  prove 
to  be  of  immeasurable  benefit  to  mankind. 

In  the  practical  use  and  transmission  of  this 
motion,  two  things  are  essential,  conductors 
and  insulation;  for  without  the  agency  of  both, 
the  current  could  not  be  controlled.  By  means 
of  conductors,  the  current  can  be  made  to  move 


55 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


to  the  desired  position,  as  a  current  of  water 
may  be  conveyed  in  a  tube,  or  a  stream  by  its 
banks;  while  insulation  serves  to  keep  the 
electric  current  substantially  confined  to  the 
line  of  the  conductor. 

A  current  of  water  will  meet  a  resistance  in 
the  shape  of  a  water-wheel  and  cause  it  to 
revolve,  and  that  in  turn  will  communicate 
motion  to  machinery;  while  a  current  of  elec- 
tricity will  revolve  the  armature  of  a  motor, 
which  in  turn  will  move  vehicles  and  machin- 
ery that  resist  this  movement. 

The  current  of  water  and  the  electric  cur- 
rent are  alike  continuous  if  the  supply  is  con- 
tinuous. Both  can  be  divided,  and  made  to 
perform  various  service  at  the  same  time;  and 
when  they  are  both  comprehended  there  will 
be  no  more  mystery  about  the  one  than  the 
other. 

The  distinction  between  the  term  static  and 
dynamic,  when  applied  to  this  motion,  seems 
to  signify  in  the  former,  nothing  more  than 
the  circumstance  that  a  current  is  restrained 


66 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


by  insulation,  as  a  flow  of  water  is  by  a  dam. 
That  it  is  a  real  motion  is  proved  by  the  fact 
that  what  is  called  induction  is  only  a  portion 
of  the  current  that  is  not  confined  strictly  to 
the  conductor,  and  which  in  turn  may  be 
transmitted  by  a  parallel  conductor,  in  an 
opposite  direction,  and  that  has  no  other 
current. 

There  seems  to  be  no  limit  to  the  imaginary 
wonders  that  are  attributed  to  this  simple  and 
convenient  mode  of  motion  by  those  would-be 
philosophers  who  fail  lo  comprehend  it.  Some 
of  them  claim  that  there  is  nothing  else  in  the 
whole  universe.  How  absurd  that  claim 
appears  in  view  of  the  fact  that  when,  for 
instance,  this  motion  is  changed  into  other 
movements  like  heat  and  light  by  a  sufficient 
resistance  or  obstruction  in  its  path,  it  is  no 
longer  regarded  as  electricity,  even  by  the  very 
ones  who  make  this  ridiculous  claim.  When  it 
is  electricity  it  is  not  heat,  and  when  it  is  heat  it 
is  not  electricity;  but  in  each  and  every  case 
it  is  only  motion,  differently  manifested. 
Neither  heat,  electricity  nor  both  of  them 


57 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


comprise  the  entire  sum  of  motion;  for  there 
are  other  modes,  and  a  mere  part  like  the  elec- 
trical movement  is  by  no  means  the  sum. 

This  motion  well  illustrates  the  manner  in 
which  changes  occur  that  are  so  radically  dif- 
ferent from  each  other.  It  can  be  changed  in- 
to heat  and  light;  also  into  mechanical 
motion;  or,  a  portion  into  one  of  these  move- 
ments and  the  balance  of  the  current,  at  the 
same  time,  into  the  other. 

Although  this  motion  is  so  serviceable,  there 
is  at  present  no  better  method  of  producing  it 
than  by  MECHANICAL  motion.  Were  it  not  for 
this  mode  of  motion,  a  time  would  probably 
arrive  when  this  world  would  be  unable  to 
advance  further  in  civilization;  or  even  to  hold 
its  own  in  that  respect  . 

COMPLEX  SECONDARY  MOVEMENTS  ON  THE 
EARTH'S  SURFACE. 

While  the  primary  motions  are  few  and  sim- 
ple, the  SECONDARY  are  numerous  and  com- 
plex; and  one  of  the  chief  reasons  for  the  ex- 
istence and  prevalence  of  the  various  errors  in 


58 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


vogue,  is  that  too  much  importance  has  been 
attached  to  these  motions,  and  their  phenom- 
ena; and  too  little  to  the  vastly  more  import- 
ant primary  motions.  The  chief  aim  has  been 
to  measure  the  universe  by  these  compara- 
tively insignificant  secondary  motions.  When 
a  projectile  is  fired  from  a  cannon  at  a  target, 
no  change  occurs  in  the  target  until  the  col- 
lision from  the  projectile  takes  place;  and  then 
changes  follow  the  impact.  If  this  operation 
was  continuous,  the  changes  of  course  would 
be  continuous.  Now  the  surface  of  the  earth 
is  being  continually  bombarded  by  the  radial 
motion  from  the  sun,  without  which  there 
would  be  only  the  primary  motions  of  the 
earth  with  the  sun,  around  the  same,  the 
diurnal  motion,  the  one  called  weight,  and 
that  unseen  movement  of  slight  range.  No 
secondary  motions  and  none  of  the  complex 
phenomena  now  so  abundantly  manifested 
would  occur;  and  of  course  no  vegetable  or 
animal  life  would  result. 


59 


CONSTITUENTS  of  THE  UNIVERSE, 


A  Suggestion  Regarding  the 
Heat  from  the  Sun. 

fHE  sun  being  the  centre  of  the  solar  sys- 
tem, has  less  mass  motion  than  the  orbs 
that  move  with  and  around  it.  Take  the 
earth,  for  example,  and  the  difference  is  nearly 
nineteen  miles  a  second.  If  the  earth  was  sud- 
denly arrested  when  moving  at  such  speed,  that 
motion  would  be  changed  into  heat  and  light  ; 
as  we  see  when  the  electric  movement  is  sud- 
denly arrested.  We  have  seen,  too,  that  a  por- 
tion of  a  movement  can  be  manifested  in  heat 
and  light,  and  the  balance  in  other  motions  at 
the  same  time.  If,  then,  the  whole  sum  of  the 
sun's  motion  is  substantially  the  same  in  pro- 
portion to  its  size  as  that  of  the  earth,  which 
seems  reasonable,  and  its  mass  motion  nine- 
teen miles  a  second  less  than  that  of  the  earth, 
there  would  then  be  the  equivalent  of  that 
amount  of  arrested  motion  continuously,  which 
the  sun  could  not  manifest  except  by  the  radial 
movement  of  heat  and  light.  This  reason  for 
the  continuous  radial  movement  from  the  sun 
is  not  only  plausible,  but  it  seems  adequate. 


60 


CONSTITUENTS  of  THE  UNIVERSE. 


The  Measurement  of  Motion. 

JN  any  given  movement  this  is  determined 
f|  simply  by  the  volume  of  that  movement 
in  connection  with  the  space,  or  distance 
through  which  it  moves,  and  the  time  occu- 
pied in  the  movement.  Neither  of  these  three 
essentials  can  be  omitted.  When  the  move- 
ment called  weight  is  involved,  the  estimate  is 
practically  the  same  as  in  the  case  of  any  other 
motion,  simply  for  the  reason  that  weight  is 
motion  as  well  as  any  other  movement.  That 
unseen  motion  called  electricity,  is  subject  to 
precisely  the  same  inflexible  conditions,  and 
this  explains  why  a  trolly  wire  of  such  slight 
dimensions  is  able  to  transmit  such  an  enor- 
mous amount  of  so-called  force  or  power.  It 
is  due  to  the  tremendous  speed  of  this  motion. 
The  operation  is  the  same  in  all  cases,  and  of 
course  the  greater  the  speed,  the  less  the 
volume  or  quantity  of  motion  required  to  pro- 
duce the  same  result. 


61 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


Perpetual  Motion. 

fHE  perpetual  motion  hobby  is  ridden  by 
many  who  are  supposed  to  be  too  well  in- 
formed to  waste  their  lives  in  trying  to 
accomplish  the  impossible;  while  there  is  no 
telling  how  many  there  are  astride  this  hobby 
who  lack  the   requisite   information    to  steer 
clear  of  all  such  impractical  schemes. 

Among  all  the  votaries  of  perpetual  motion, 
it  is  doubtful  if  even  one  can  be  found  who 
does  not  fully  understand  that  a  pendulum,  a 
scale  beam,  or  vacuum  pump  cannot  be  made 
to  move  continuously  except  a  continuous 
motion  is  applied.  The  reason  why  they  do 
not  attempt  to  make  perpetual  motion  with 
these  simple  devices  is  because  they  under- 
stand them;  and  yet  the  pendulum  at  least  can 
be  made  to  continue  a  given  motion  with  a 
given  impulse  longer  than  any  other  device, 
but  it  will  not  move  perpetually. 

This  simple  fact  alone  ought  to  deter  any  one 
from  attempting  to  make  any  machine  with  a 
view  to  perpetual  motion.  This  class  of  in- 


62 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


ventors,  instead  of  keeping  within  practical 
lines,  where  practical  results  are  possible,  will 
waste  their  time  and  means  in  trying  to  make 
something  operate  that  they  do  not  compre- 
hend. If  they  can  see  through  a  thing  clearly, 
they  never  try  to  make  perpetual  motion  with 
it,  for  then  they  know  better.  But  they  add 
to  and  complicate  whatever  they  are  con- 
triving to  make  move  perpetually,  until  they 
no  longer  comprehend  what  its  mode  of  opera- 
tion would  be;  and  then  they  are  convinced 
that  they  have  succeeded. 

Even  when  they  know  that  a  hundred  pounds 
will  not  raise  another  hundred,  but  only  bal- 
ance it,  they  will  still  try  to  make  some  (to 
them)  incomprehensible  complexity  operate  as 
a  perpetual  motion  by  means  of  so-called 
weights.  The  vacuum  is  the  favorite  source 
from  which  these  impractical  schemers  attempt 
to  obtain  perpetual  motion;  simply  because  it 
is  more  difficult  to  understand  than  the  familiar 
so-called  weights. 

Other  things  have  been  and  will  be  tried; 
but  there  is  not,  and  never  will  be  a  machine 


63 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


or  device  that  will  solve  such  a  problem  as 
perpetual  motion. 

One  of  the  principal  reasons  why  nothing  is 
possible  in  this  line,  is  that  no  machine  or  de- 
vice can  make  a  motion  itself.  It  can  only 
manifest  motion  when  a  pre'ceding  movement 
has  been  applied,  and  will  not  move  after  that 
motion  ceases  except  through  acquired  mo- 
mentum. 

The  grand  difficulty  with  every  motion  of 
this  kind  is  that  it  is  MERELY  A  SECONDARY 

MOTION,   WHICH    IS    NEVER    PERPETUAL.       While 

the  primary  motions  are  perpetual,  the  second- 
ary are  not.  as  has  been  heretofore  pointed  out. 
No  application  can  be  made  of  the  primary  to 
a  machine,  and  yet  every  machine  itself  par- 
takes of  the  primary  movements  of  the  earth 
of  which  it  is  a  part;  and  by  virtue  of  one 
motion  alone,  the  one  around  the  sun,  is  con- 
stantly moving  nearly  nineteen  miles  in  a  sec- 
ond; but  this,  although  perpetual  while  the 
machine  lasts,  is  not  the  one  of  which  the  per- 
petual motion  philosophers  are  in  pursuit. 


64 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSE. 


It  is  not  a  pleasant  spectacle  to  see  an  honest 
inventor  in  severe  financial  straits  wasting  his 
time,  his  means,  his  health,  and  even  his  life, 
in  such  a  vain  and  useless  struggle,  which  can 
yield  no  possible  returns  but  poverty  or  in- 
sanity; or,  in  the  end,  perhaps,  both  of  these 
unwelcome  conditions.  There  is  also  another 
unpleasant  spectacle  in  connection  with  this 
perpetual  motion  folly,  occasionally  manifested 
by  some  designing,  dishonest  and  pretended 
inventor,  in  the  shape  of  a  shameless  fraud;  for 
there  is  nothing  possible  but  folly  and  fraud 
in  this  uninviting  and  unrequiting  desert  of 
invention  . 

[THE  END.] 


PRESS    OF 
FKANDZEN,   BUMGARDNER  &  CO. 


65 


YB   1252 


947267 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


